The Democratic incumbent, who was appointed to the seat in 2009, defeated Republican challenger Jennifer Simpson Ward by a nearly 3 to 2 margin to reclaim the position for a four-year term.

“This was the most stressful part,” Gray said of waiting for returns to roll into the Jones County Board of Election’s conference room. “I really appreciate the support of all the people of Jones County.”

While Gray won by a decisive margin, the results in the Jones County Board of Education race proved a much narrower margin. While Billy Griffin led all vote-getters in the pick-two race, the final seat, at least at the moment, will go to incumbent Mary Hall, who unofficially finished ahead of challenger Michael Wilder by just 29 votes.

Ballots will be canvassed and the results made official Nov. 16.

“Right now, I’m feeling really good. I had hoped for a little more distance (in the vote) but right now I am looking for another good term,” Hall said. “Maybe we can complete some stuff that we have in progress and do the right thing for the students of Jones County.”

Wilder could not be reached for this report.

Griffin, who has served the board since 1998 and is currently the board’s chairman, garnered 38 percent of the votes in the pick-two election. He said he believes strong showing is an endorsement of the current board as a whole, as much as himself.

“I’m happy about having everyone vote,” Griffin said. “I’m only 20 percent of the board but I think we’ve done a lot of positive things. I hope that is why they voted for me.”

Michael Shepherd, who ran unopposed, won the non-partisan Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor election with 98.79 percent of the vote.

More than 5,200 of the 7,534 registered voters (69.43 percent) turned out for the general election.

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